Box flap holder



Oct-31, 1967 v R. M. HAY'GEMAN BOX FLAP HOLDER Filed Aug. 4, 1965 RN 0 AM N E E G Y WA H M T R E B O R ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,349,446BOX FLAP HOLDER Robert M. Haygeman, Green Bay, Wis. 54301 Filed Aug. 4,1965, Ser. No. 477,268 8 Claims. (Cl. 2487) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Arigid fastener having a pair of arms disposed at right angles to eachother in substantially the same plane with inwardly directed pointsthereon for piercing adjacent top flaps of a corrugated cardboard box tohold them in open position.

My invention relates to fastening means and more particularly to a newand improved box flap holder.

An object of my invention is to provide a reusable box flap holder forholding the top flaps of a corrugated box or similar container in anopen position against the sides of the box.

Another object of my invention is to provide a box flap holder forholding the top flaps of a box in open position against the sides of thebox from the outside of the box without projecting above or into the boxopening, and, therefore, presenting no obstruction whatsoever to thefilling or emptying of the box.

Another object of my invention is to provide a box flap holder which canbe used on boxes of all sizes and which can be employed without anydanger of damaging the contents of the box.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such a box flapholder which can be extremely easily and quickly attached to the flapsof a box and yet which will hold the flaps securely and which can bereadily removed when desired.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such a box flapholder which comprises a single rigid member which is extremely durablein use.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein several preferred embodiments have beenselected to exemplify the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my novel box flap holder.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the box flap holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of my novel box flap holder.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the box flap holder of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the box flap holder of FIG. 1 attachedto the top flaps of a box.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts throughout the several views, a preferred form of mynovel box flap holder is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Theholder 10 comprises a fiat, rigid member having a pair of integral arms11 and 12 having substantially straight inner edges 13 and 14,respectively, disposed at 90 to each other.

Arms 11 and 12 have points and 16 formed at the ends thereof,respectively, and extending inwardly at 90 to the edges 13 and 14,respectively. Each of points 15 and 16 has an inner tapered edge 17 andan outer tapered edge 1-8. The edges 13, 14, 17 and 18 are allsubstantially fiat and are disposed at 90 to the plane of the flatholder 10.

In the particular holder 10 shown for exemplification, the edges 17 and18 of point 15 are disposed at an angle of about 115 with respect tostraight edge 13 of arm 11 and corresponding edges 17 and 18 of point 16are similarly disposed at an angle of 115 with respect to straight edge14 of arm 12. This disposition of edges 18 allows the points 15 and 16to easily pierce the flaps of conventional corrugated boxes and othersimilar paperboard containers when the holder 10 is pressed against theflaps, as best seen in FIG. 6. The holder 10 is maintained in its flapholding position by inner edges 17 of the points 15 and 16. It isrecognized that the angle at which edges 17 and 18 are disposed withrespect to the respective arms, may vary somewhat depending upon variousfactors such as the material, size and weight of the holder and the typeof box or container on which it will be used. I have found that for mostsituations the angle can vary from about 1101-20 for the easiestinsertion into the flaps, the firmest holding action and the easiestremoval therefrom. However, it is recognized that under certaincircumstances this angle could be made somewhat larger or smaller forbest results.

As shown in FIG. 1, holder 10 has a hole 19 therethrough for receiving akey chain, string, or other retaining means. Thus, persons such asinventorytakers, ins pee-tors and others may carry one or more of theholders on a keychain for ready availability.

A modified form of my invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This modifiedholder 20 is the same as holder 10 except that, as shown in FIG. 4, itis somewhat thicker and the top and bottom edges 23 and 24,respectively, of its points 21 and 22 are tapered to a point.

Both holders 10 and 20 can be made of any suitably rigid material, suchas steel, aluminum, other metals, plastic, and the like; however, theweaker the strength of the material used, the thicker the holder willhave to be to obtain the required strength and rigidity. Thus, with thethicker holders such as 20, it is desirable to taper the top and bottomedges 23 and 24 of the points as shown in FIG. 4 to facilitate ease ofinsertion of the points into the flaps of a box.

To use either form of my box flap holder to hold the top flaps of acontainer or corrugated box, such as 30 shown in FIG. 5, place theadjacent top flaps such as 31 and 32 in full open position against theoutside of sides 33 and 34 of the box, respectively.

While holding the top flaps 31 and 32 in such a full open position, pushthe box flap holder into the top flaps 31 and 32 at the corner of thebox where the flaps 31 and 32 meet. One of the points of the box flapholder is pressed into one top flap and the other point pierces theadjacent top flap. The inner edges 17 of the points maintain the holderon the flaps and the angle formed by the arms 11 and 12 of the box flapholder fits the 90 angle of the flaps which are now held firmly in fullopen position to facilitate the easy filling or emptying of the box.

The remaining two top flaps of the box may be similar- 1y held byanother holder, thus, it will be noted that only two holders arerequired for holding the four top flaps of a box in full open positionas may be desired for displaying merchandise in the box, as well as tofacilitate the filling and emptying of the box.

As best seen in FIG. 6 the points 15 and 1 6 of the holder need notprotrude through the top flaps 3-1 and 32 to hold them securely and,therefore, if the box is to be-reclosed there will not be any holes inthe outside surface of the top flaps or in the sides of the box.

The box flap holder can be pressed into the flaps at any distance fromthe top of the box; however, firmer holding is obtained as a result ofbetter leverage by placing the holder on the lower portion of the openflaps.

It is apparent that my box flap holder is of extremely simple and lowcost construction and will be very durable in use, since it has no partsto become loose or out of adjustment or any parts which will wear out orbreak due to bending fatigue as may be the case with known box flapholders which are flexed or bent during insertion and which can easilybe permanently deformed from their normal configuration if the box flapis excessively rigid or if the box flap is unintentionally lifted whilethe holder is attached.

It is understood that my invention is not confined to the particularconstruction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described,but embraces all such modified forms thereof as may come within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A box flap holder comprising a substantially rigid member having apair of arms disposed at substantially right angles to each other, saidarms having inwardly directed points thereon adapted to pierce adjacenttop flaps of a box for holding same in an open position against thesides of the box, said arms and said points lying in substantially acommon plane.

2. A box flap holder as specified in claim 1 wherein said points havetapered inner edges disposed at about 110-120 to the arm on which eachis located.

3. A box flap holder as specified in claim 1 wherein said member has ahole therethrough for receiving retaining means therefor.

4. A box flap holder comprising a substantially flat rigid member havinga pair of arms disposed at substantially right angles to each other,said arms having inwardly directed points thereon adapted to pierceadjacent top flaps of a box for holding same in an open position againstthe sides of the box, said points having inner tapered edges lying inplanes at substantially right angles to the plane of said flat membersaid arms and said points lying in substantially a common plane.

5. A box flap holder as specified in claim 4 wherein said inner edgesare disposed at about 115 to the arm on which each is located.

6. A box flap holder comprising a substantially flat,

rigid member having a pair of arms disposed at substantially rightangles to each other, each of said arms having an inwardly directedpoint thereon adapted to pierce adjacent top flaps of a box for holdingsame in an open position against the sides of the box, each of saidpoints having an outer and an inner tapered edge lying in planesdisposed at substantially right angles to the plane of said flat member,said edges forming an angle of about 115 with the arm on which they arelocated said arms and said points lying in substantially a common plane.

7. A box flap holder comprising a substantially flat, rigid memberhaving a pair of arms having substantially straight inner edges disposedat right angles to each other, each of said arms having a point at theend thereof extending inwardly at a right angle to said edge, each ofsaid points having an outer and an inner tapered edge lying in planesdisposed at substantially right angles to the plane of said fiat member,said inner edges forming an angle of about 115 with the straight edge ofthe arm on which they are located said arms and said points lying insubstantially a common plane.

8. A box flap holder as specified in claim 7 wherein said outer edge ofeach point forms an angle of about 115 with the straight edge of the armon which it is positioned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 967,605 8/1910 Brooks 229--471,061,619 5/1913 Lofland 229-47 1,184,079 5/1916 DArcy. 2,088,916 8/1937Matveyetf 22947 2,131,093 9/1938 Cage 229 -44 XR 2,345,481 3/ 1944Kaieser 24-87 2,807,406 9/ 1957 Lowrey 22947 2,950,514 8/1960 Small24-81 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Examiner.

1. A BOX FLAP HOLDER COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MEMBER HAVING APAIR OF ARMS DISPOSED AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, SAIDARMS HAVING INWARDLY DIRECTED POINTS THEREON ADAPTED TO PIERCE ADJACENTTOP FLAPS OF A BOX FOR HOLDING SAME IN AN OPEN POSITION AGAINST THESIDES OF THE BOX, SAID ARMS AND SAID POINTS LYING IN SUBSTANTIALLY ACOMMON PLANE.